Maoists storm capital as Nepal’s monarchy nears its abolition

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Maoists said Monday they were pouring tens of thousands of members of their feared youth wing into the capital ahead of this week’s anticipated abolition of the monarchy.
The mobilization comes as authorities said they were boosting security in Kathmandu to enforce a ban on demonstrations—both for and against embattled King Gyanendra.
A top Maoist official said the former rebels only intended to “celebrate” the king’s demise and would respect security restrictions barring them from attempting to lay siege or storm the royal palace.
“We are going to bring in 50,000 Young Communist League members to celebrate the declaration of a republic on Wednesday,” said Sagar, the head of the Maoists’ youth wing, who goes by one name.
“This is going to be a celebration and a display of our strength and our victory. But we will stay away from prohibited areas,” he told Agence France-Presse.
Authorities in the capital said they have banned demonstrations and mass meetings in four places around Kathmandu and are planning to deploy an extra 5,000 security personnel.
“The government has announced special prohibitory orders from today that forbid rallies or protests in certain sensitive areas including the royal palace and the constituent assembly venue,” said Kathmandu police chief Sarbendra Khanal.
A new constitutional assembly, which the Maoists won the most seats in during elections in April, is due to formally abolish the monarchy on Wednesday.
The end of the 240-year-old Shah dynasty will be a major victory for the Maoists, who launched a “people’s war” in 1996 aimed at toppling the monarchy and establishing a communist republic.
But tensions are still high, with the king seen as enjoying some support in the national army and the country’s ruling elite.
The Maoists have promised to follow democratic norms, but the movement—including the youth wing being mobilized in Kathmandu—faces allegations that their cadre continue to commit serious human rights abuses, including abduction, extortion and murder.
Maoist leader Prachanda and the leaders of the political parties he defeated in the polls were meanwhile in talks on hammering out an agreement on a coalition government ahead of Wednesday’s Constituent Assembly meeting.
Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, seen by many as the architect of the peace process, has formally asked the Maoists to lead the government but there are disagreements about who will hold other key posts.
Although the former rebels won a clear victory, garnering 220 of the 601 seats in the assembly, they are shy of a majority, and will need to work with the parties they defeated to form a coalition government. (Manila Times)